HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS

October is characteristically the beginning of the flu season in schools, and St. Mary Magdalen School has lready had a few cases of seasonal flu.

Our teachers are especially vigilant this year because of the concern regarding H1N1 as well as seasonal flu.  Daily, teachers clean desk tops, door knobs, keyboards, etc. with soal and water.  The school is thoroughly disinfected each week.  In addition, students wash their hands with soap and water, cough or sneeze in the their elbow, and stay home if they have flu-like symptoms.

We highly commend our parents for the excellent job they are doing in monitoring their children's health.  As the season progresses we must remain vigilant toward protecting our students.  We recommend that parents seriously consider flu vaccinations according to their doctor's advice.

The King County Health Department has a very helpfu website parents may wish to access.  www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/preparedness/pandemicflu/swineflu/prevention

Symptoms this website includes are:

Sudden onset of illness; fever higher than 100.4 F (38 C)

Chills, cough, headache

Sore throat, stuffy nose, muscle aches

Feeling of weakness and/or exhaustion, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain

We look forward to a strong resistance to illness through a consistent and complete attention to everything possible to protect our studnts.